Die-rolled blank and method and apparatus for making the same



Feb." 9 Q 1926.

- 1,572,343 w RrwlTHERow DIE RoLLED BLANK AND METop AND APARATUS FOR MAKING THE SAME v'led Jani 5, 1922 l 1 Sheets-Sheet 1 ...,:Llll NIH WW" f "unlllllll" NvENToR Maw @4f/MMM Feb,.9,19ze. l* i 1,572,343

' f W. P. WITHEROW DIE RoLLED BLANK AND METHOD AND APPARATUS-F013 MAKING vTHE4 SAME Patented Feb. 9, 1926. l

UNITEDI STATES A 1,572,343 ,PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM r. WITHEROW, or rrr'.Isnunan. PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNon To WITHEROW STEEL COMPANY, A CORPORATION F PENNSYLVANIA.

DIE-R0LLED BLANK AND METHOD AND APPARATUS 'Eon MAKING THE SAME.

Application and January 5, 1922'. serial No. 527,202.'

To ZZ 'whom yit may conc-ern.'

Be 1t known that I, WILLIAM P. W ITIIE-.

muv, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Die-Rolled Blanks and vMethods and Apparatus for Making the Same, of which the following is a. full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which* Figure 1 lis a side elevation of portions of two connected axle blanks Aas they come from the die rolls;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the blanks illustrated in Figure 1 n Figure 3 is a transverse sectional vlew on the lines IIL-III of `,Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a series of .wrench blanks as they come from the rolls;

, Figure 5 is a side elevation of the blanks of Figure 4;

Figure is a transverse sectional the lineVI-VI of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a similar view on the line Y VII-' VII of Figure 4;

Figure S'is a side elevation of part of a series 4of connecting rods as produced by the present invention;

Figures 9, 10 and 11 are transverse sectional views on the' lines .IX-IX, X-X, and XI-XI, respectively, of Fi re 8;

Figure 12 isa view correspondlng tov Figure8, illustrating portions of connected cam shafts produced by die rolling;

Figure 13 isa similar view illustrating a series of knife blanks;

Fi re 14 is a side view of the blank shown in Figure 13, v i

Figure y15 is a sectional view througl1 dies adapted to be utilized in accordance with my invention ;A

s Figure 16 is' a sectional perspective view of one of the sectional dies; 4

Figure 17 is a view similar to Figures 1, 4, 8, 12 and' 13, illustrating parts of connected blanks for Windshield stanchions;

Figure 18 is --a side viewof the blanks of Figure`17 and Figures 19 to 23 are sectional views on the section lines XIX--XIX, XX.XX, XXI-XXI, XXII--XXIL and XXIII- XXIII, respectively, of Figure 17.

Heretofore, it has been pro osed to `dieroll a plurality of different finished articles view on and allowance has .has another objection,

or blanks such n nails, spikes, harrow teeth, coupling pins, links, knives, forks, nuts, tie plates, and the like, either as individual units or as an inte ally connected lseries produced by die rolling with rolls having a recurrent pattern. Several difficulties have Ibeen encountered vin 4connection With 'such operations, such as non-uniformity of product, the amount of rolled material having to be scrapped, and the difficulty and expense of keepingv the die rolls properly dressed. All of these problems have prevented the commercial introduction of such methods generally, and particularly in connection with large tonnage production of axles, shafts and the like where accuracy is an important factor.

For example, 488,048 of Dec. ly to the rolling knife and fork the patent to Anderson, No. 13, 1892, relating particular'- of cutlery blanks, such as blanks, states one of the difficulties. This is the natural .tendency of the rolls to spring apart, thereby impairing the accuracy of the rolling, particularly where thin bodies or blanks are Abeing produced.` This problem has been recognized, been made for such springing apart, but no attempt has been made to minimize such spring and increase the accuracy. and uniformity of product. The same problems were undoubtedly encountered by the parties interested in the patent to Hallus et al. No. 193,115 of July 17, 1877, and account for the failure to commercially introduce such methods. According t'o one form of my invention, this ditliculty is largely, if not entirely, overcome. i i l This .tendency of the' rolls `tospring also' which the patent to Richardson, No. 136,620 of Mar. 11, 1873,I attempted to overcome. an over-fill, whichl in subsequent operations produces a cold shut or lap. In Richardson, special provision 'is made for the overfill with the view of Working it back into thev body of the stock. According 'to one form of my invention,-I provide for a definitely located flash adapted to be sheared away.

The present invention also contemplates rolling a widevariety of objects, the sizes of which may vary considerably, and in many instances rolllng parts to finished di` mansions, erv from center to center with sue.-4

' The spring results in cessive blanks directly connected end to end or by a suitable gatin from center ,toicenter I mean from a given point on one blank to a corresponding point On'an adjacent blank, or with a given distance between definite points on the same flfblank. It is intended by the present invenlustrated. This body portion adjacent each end gradually merges vinto enlargements or bosses 3 from which spring seats may be formed -by a, suitable machining operation. Beyond the bosses 3, there is a short sect-ion 4 of I-beam cross section merging gradually into a solid end portion 5 of general rectangular cross section. Connecting the, portion- 5 with the corresponding portion of the adjacent beam may be a gating 6. This gating, when provided, serves a double purpose. It indicates the exact points of separation of adjacent blanks, an prevents slipping between the rolls and the blanks during the rolling of the rectan ular end portions on which the rolls w'oul .otherwise have a relatively lpoor bite, and is very efficient when rolling from center to center. The solid portions 5 are adapted to be subsequently split, forged and machined in forming axles having a yoke thereon', or forged and machined in forming axles having bosses thereon. Preferably, although not necessarily, blankspf this general nature are rolled4 from leaders having a uniform cross section or rudimentary shape corresponding generally to the shape of a finished portion of the axle. In the example given,

the blank would be of rudimentary I-beam shape in cross section. It will be noted that the blanks as they come from. the rolls are provided with a flash 7 the width of which varies generally in accordance with the reduction and deforming produced by the die rolls on'the leader.v This flash is easily trimmed away. eitherbefore or after -performing the finishing operations onl the blank.

Figures 4 to 7 disclose a preferred method of producing wrench blanks according to the present invention. These blanks, also, come from the rolls in a connected series, each blank comprising a main body portion 8, ofsuitable shape, usually of fiattened oval/shape. Adjacent each end, the dies provide a head 9 in which the nut sockets -are adapted to be subsequently formed bya suitable machining operation. The blanks are Preferably provided with a flash 10 as they By the expression come from the rolls, and are connected by a gating 11, which is effective in substantially the same manner as before described.

In Figures 8 to 11 there is illustrated one shape which connecting rod blanks for internal combustion engines may have imparted to a suitably shaped leader during the die roll-ing. These blanks are preferably rolled in pairs, each pair comprising a partially finished connecting rod having a main body portion 12, whilethe first rod ofthe adjacent pair is indicated as having a similar body portion 13. Each blank .has a head 14 adapted to be machined to receive'a wrist pin, and a head 15 adapted to be-similarly finished to cooperate with the crank shaft.

`Each of the rods .has the flash 16, and ad- Vimportant advantage of 5suchblanks is the absolute uniformity, givlng to the forger definite bodies of metal correctly located, thereby facilitating his work, increasing production, andinsuring astandard product.

Figure- 12 illustrates portions of adjacent rolled blanks-from which cam shafts are produced. The blanks have the flash 20, and enlargements '214 suitably positioned to provide stock frombjwhich cams and bearings maybe formed y suitable after operations. v The dotted lines indicate points at which the adjacent blanks may be separated, and thereafter cut to length, or the points at which accurate cutting to length may be initially accomplished where the blanks are rolled from center to center. It will be obvious that a gating may be utilized with such ioo blanks, as set forth inconnecton with the 1 0 blanks heretofore described.

In Figures 13 and 14 there are illustrated two views of a connected series of knife blanksE as they come from the rolls. "hc

`knife blades 23, and the handles 24 are indicated in solid line outline, practically cntirely surrounded by a flash 24?, the flash in this particular form of blank also forming the gating between adjacent blanks. These blanks may bc easily pressed or sheared to remove the Hash and provide bases to which the silver coating'may be applied. The provision of the flash in rolling knife blanks is particularly advantageous as it enables accurate rolling. For example, -the die sections 25l ofFigures 15 and 16, embodying.

generally the features of construction of the patent to George Baehr, No. 1,289,602 of Dec. 31, 1918, may have formed therein fiash .guttl 26 It each side of the pattern 27 to accommodate the excess metal without roll spring.

blanks to be rolled to the proper thickness, all of the blanks being uniform.

" In Figures 17 to 253, I have shown portions ofl adjacent blanks from which Wind be formed.A Adjacent blanks are illustrated as connected by a gating 30 serving the purposes before set forth. v

It will be apparent. that the series of blanks as formed in accordance' with the present invention, each contains a number of uniform blanks, all requiring certa-in after operations. After the blanks are sepa-rated into single units, or into pairs, they may be sold as semi-finished articles of manufacture, or they may be completely lfinished at one factoryv and sold directly to the trade. In every case, the blanks possess certa-in characteristics in common in that definitely located bodies of metal are accurately and uniformly positioned and rolled with a mini mum of roll spring and aminimum of roll slipping. This insures definite dimensions transversely and from center to center, as will be understood. These. advantages constitute important features of the present invention.

I claim:

l. A die roll having .a pattern for the blank to be rolled and a fiashgutter of substantially uniform depth cooperating therewith.

2. As an article ofI manufacture, a con-l nected series of blanks rolled to provide uniform distances between corresponding points 'on adjacent blanks, each of said blanks having portions adapted to be forged, said blanks being connected by a gating, the gating betwen adjacent pairs of blanks being longer than the gating between adjacent. blanks to serve as a tongshold during the forging operations.

3. The method of die rolling, comprising passing a leaderbetween die rolls to form a connectedseries of blanks each having fiash on the opposite sides thereof, separat ing the blanks and trimming the fiash, and thereafter forging at least certain portions of the blanks.

4. As an article of manufacture, a string of die rolled ferrous blanks reduced while hot throughout at least the major portion of each blank by the die-rolling operation, Said blanks having Hash zones onopposite This decreases roll neck friction, increases life of the rolls, andenables the sides thereof, the string of blanks having accurately spaced apart portions of greater size than the desired size 1n a finished article to provide accurately positioned bodies 'of metal on blanks severed from the string,

such portions beingrv adapted for reworking. 5. As an article of manufacture, a string .of die rolled ferrous blanksreduced While hot throughout at least the major portion of each blank by the die rolling operation, said blanks having flash zones on opposite sides thereof, the string of blanks having a`ccu rately spaced apart portions of greater size than the desired size in a finished article to provide accurately positioned bodies of inet-al on blanks severed froml the string, such portions being adapted for reworking, and said blanks having other portions of substantially finished dimensions andl contour.

6. As an `article of manufacture, a 4string of die rolled ferrous blanks reduced while hot throughout at leastthe major portion of the length of each blank by the die rolling operation,.said blanks having flash on diametrically opposite sides thereof in substantially the medianplane of the string of blanks and having accurately spaced apart portions along the string of blanks providing portions Von blanks severed from t-he string and adapted for reworking. said blanks also having other portions of substantially finished dimensions and contour.

7. As an article of manufacture, a string of die rolled ferrous blanks, each reduced While hot throughout at least the major pcrtion of its length by the dierrolling operation, said blanks being connected bv gating defining` the zone of separation and having fiash on substantially diametrically opposite sides,the string of blanks having accurately spacedportions providing accurately positioned portions on blanks severed from the 'llas i on opposite sides thereof, and providing matrix portions in the rolls such as will roduce recurring portions in the string oi blanks, such portions being accurately spaced and providing at leastv one portion adapted for reworking in the several blanks and 'lllll other portions of substantially finished dimensions and contour. n

9. The method of forming metal articles, comprising passing a leader between die rolls adapted to form a string of connected blanks, forming accurately spaced portions along the string adapted forreforging, permitting excess metal to liow'sidewise in a substantially unrestricted manner to form .flash integral with the blanks, separating the blanks and trimming` the flash', and thereafter reheatingand forging at least certainV portions of the blanks.

. 10. The method of forming metal articles, comprising passing a leader between die rolls adaptcd'to form a string of connected blanks, forming accurately spaced portions along the string adapted for a subsequent operation wherein a HOW of metal is securedl,

permitting excess metal to-low sidewise in a substantlally unrestricted manner to. form vflash integral with the blanks, separating l blanks, forming accurately spaced portions alongthe string adapted'for reworking` permitting excess metal to flow sidewise in asubstant-ially' unrestricted manner to form flash integral with the blanks, separating the :blanks and trimmingtheflash, and'there-V 'after reworking at leastcertain portions of the blanks.

v f In' testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.-A v v WILLIAM P. -WITHEROW. 

